The Huntington Theatre Company salutes the Actors Equity Association (AEA)‚ the labor union representing over 40‚000 American actors and stage managers in professional theatre. For over 90 years‚ Equity has negotiated minimum wages and working conditions‚ administered contracts‚ and enforced the provisions of various agreements with theatrical employers across the country.

On May 26‚ 1913‚ 112 performers gathered at the Pabst Grand Circle Hotel to adopt Equity’s Constitution and elect its first President. The Preamble is still the finest statement of Equity’s mission:

We hereby constitute ourselves as a voluntary association to advance‚ promote‚ foster and benefit all those connected with the art of theatre and particularly the profession of acting and the conditions of persons engaged therein; to protect and secure the rights of actors; to inform them as to their legal rights and remedies; to advise and assist them in obtaining employment and proper compensation; to procure appropriate legislation upon matters affecting their profession.